bronchiole

[ brong-kee-ohl ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a small branch of a bronchus.

bronchiole

/ ˌbrɒŋkɪˈəʊlə; ˈbrɒŋkɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. any of the smallest bronchial tubes, usually ending in alveoli

bronchiole

/ brŏng′kē-ōl′ /

1. Any of the small, thin-walled tubes that branch from a bronchus and end in the alveolar sacs of the lung.

Derived Forms

• bronchiolar, adjective

Other Words From

• bron·chi·o·lar [brong-kee-, oh, -ler, brong-, kahy, -, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bronchiole¹

1865–70; < New Latin bronchiolum, equivalent to bronchi ( a ) bronchia + -olum -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bronchiole¹

C19: from New Latin bronchiolum , diminutive of Late Latin bronchium , singular of bronchia